The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deploying around 7,000 tourist policemen to secure popular tourist destinations across the country in anticipation of the influx of people during the Holy Week break.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the tourist cops are part of the total of 34,000 uniformed personnel that will be tapped of the security measures that will start as early as March 25 when millions of people are expected to take advantage of the long break to go to their hometowns or go on vacation.

“More or less, we have 7,000 tourist police that we will deploy to major tourist destinations to make sure that both foreign and local tourists would feel police presence,” said Fajardo.

As millions of people are expected to troop to various transportation hubs across the country, Fajardo said the police deployment will be complemented with more than 400 police service dogs.

“Our K9 dogs, more or less 400 police service dogs, will be deployed. They will help check baggage of the people and other belongings in these areas,” said Fajardo.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) earlier said that they are anticipating more than two million passengers starting next week in various ports across the country.

Airport officials have already started implementing security measures this early for the Holy Week starting March 28.

Officials, however, said they expect the exodus to start as early as Monday, March 25.

For the ports, Fajardo said the coordination is with the Philippine Coast Guard for augmentation of security measures while in the airports, security meetings were done with airport security managers.

Local police forces were also instructed to intensify the security measures in various bus terminals and major thoroughfares in their respective areas.

“As a matter of practice during Holy Week observance, we are on heightened alert but we are giving the regional directors discretion in their respective areas if there is a need to elevate it to full alert,” said Fajardo.